The Commissioner for Older People, Siobhan Casey has welcomed the announcement from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer that there will be a £17m support package for Northern Ireland to help with rising home heating oil costs. However, she also said the government must now move quickly to clarify who will receive the support and when it will reach those who need it.
Siobhan Casey said:
“With a significant proportion of homes in Northern Ireland relying on heating oil, older people remain particularly vulnerable to sudden price increases, especially those living on fixed incomes and already managing rising living costs.
“While the announcement of support is welcome, it is essential that government now moves at speed to provide clarity on who will be eligible and when the support will be delivered.
“Uncertainty can add to the anxiety many older people are already feeling. Clear information and timely support will be crucial to helping ease those concerns and ensuring older people are not left worrying about how they will afford to keep their homes warm.”
